Your legal obligations

Workplace safety laws & what they mean for your industry

Legal obligations to protect workers’ hearing in the light manufacturing industry are legislated in Australia under Commonwealth laws and specific State regulations.

The outcome of these protections is a workforce that doesn’t have to contend with the long-term difficulties and impacts associated with noise induced hearing loss.

Put simply, if there is any doubt that noise levels are over 85dB during an eight period or that machinery or equipment noise exceed the recommended levels for any workers, the onus is on the employer to conduct noise testing and ensure that workers are not at risk of exposure to unsafe noise levels for the whole of the work day.

You then need to provide signage, training, personal protection equipment (PPE ) and monitoring of the affected workers. Part of the process also involves identifying the source of the noise and addressing that through baffling or relocation of equipment; that is, noise sources need to managed.

Employer legal obligations: In summary

Under Tasmanian OH&S Regulations 1998, employers are required to:

– determine the level of noise that employees may be exposed to;

– put appropriate controls in place to protect employees from the effects of noise;

– carry out regular hearing assessment tests for all noise affected workers; and